May 15th, 2008

We know it’s not exactly shoe-related, but really all accessories are pretty important this time of year! So without further ado here are some tips, courtesy of About.com, on how to pick the perfect pair of sunglasses for your peepers.

Sunglasses – Choose Sunglasses that Look Great and Protect Your Eyes

Put UV protection on your must-have list
Your sunglasses must provide protection from ultraviolet radiation, a
component of sunlight that contributes to eye disease. The FDA, the
government agency that oversees sunglass manufacture and sales in the
U.S., recommends you look for sunglasses with lenses that block 99-100%
of UVA and UVB radiation. The label should read either UV 400 or 100% UV protection.

Sunglass lens tints and other coatings

UV filtering is one coating that’s applied to sunglass lenses, but there are many others:

Sunglass Lens Tints

Colors are applied to sunglass lenses to help absorb light as it passes
through them. The color you choose is a matter of personal taste, but
there are a few important color-related benefits to consider.

-Gray lens tints reduce brightness, but do not distort color.

-Brown and amber tints reduce glare, including the glare
created by the blue frequency in sunlight, which can make things appear
hazy. Brown and amber tints distort colors more than gray tints do.

-Yellow lens tints reduce the haze from blue light better
than browns, so they really sharpen up the view, but they cause more
color distortion.

-Green tinted lenses reduce glare and help filter out some of the blue light. They provide good contrast between objects.

-Rose colored lenses might be a good choice if you
participate in water sports or other outdoor activities, because they
provide good contrast for objects viewed against blue or green
backgrounds.

Should you buy sunglasses with polarized lenses?

Polarizing films applied to lenses help reduce the glare created when
light bounces off of some objects, such as water, highways and other
similar surfaces. I prefer polarized lenses, but it’s a personal choice.

Watch for sunglasses with lens scratch resistance

A thin coating can be applied to lenses to make them more resistant to
scratches. Plastic lenses scratch more easily than glass lenses.

Sunglasses with mirrored lenses

You’ve seen sunglasses with a mirror finish on the outside of the
lenses. They’re popular, but mirrored lenses scratch easily because the
mirror finish is applied last.

Sunglasses with photochromatic lenses

Photochromatic (or photochromic) lenses become darker when exposed to
UV radiation. The shift happens quickly as your surroundings change
from bright to dim.

Buying sunglasses with anti-reflective coatings

Anti-reflective coatings reduce the reflection caused by light that
hits the back side of lenses, keeping it from bouncing into your eyes.

Choose sunglasses that suit your style

Sunglass styles change every year, just like every other fashion, but
the selections are so varied that no pair will ever really go "out" of
style. And since sunglasses don’t have to be expensive to be effective,
you don’t have to spend a fortune to develop a nice collection.

Designer and specialty sunglasses, like the kinds used for sports, cost
more than most sunglasses, but you’ll find all kinds of fashion glasses
for sale at affordable prices. Watch the UV ratings carefully and
you’ll be fine.

Unless you already know which frame shapes look good on you, go
shopping and try on as many styles as possible. If you can get
permission to walk outside with glasses on, do it, so that you can find
out how they actually work in the sunlight.

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on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 3:03 pm and is filed under Main.
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